Tile.



B. FRANKLIN.

TILE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3; 1915.

1,155,559. Patented Oct. 5, 1915..

awuemboz E ezzjami 21 Franklin BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, OF SAN DIEGO, GALIFORNIA.

TILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 5, 1915.

Application filed June 3, 19 1-5. Serial No. 31,902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LBENJAMIN FRANK- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiles;

and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tiles and more particularly to roofing tiles and the roofs constructed by the employment thereof, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character wherein the tiles may be readily assembled and positioned in constructing the roof, by even an unskilled person, and in which members of one set will interlock the companion members of the other set in such a manner that the accidental displacement or detachment of the members of the first set is absolutely prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roof construction formed of separable tiles, which will bepermanent, but which upon the breakage of one ofthe tiles the said tile may be easily detached and replaced by a new one. 7

A further object of the intention is to provide a device which is simple and die rable in construction. inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

WVith these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of after referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view partly broken away showing my improved tiling applied to a roof; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the underlying tiles; and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the overlying. tiles.

In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

y invention includes generally two separate sets of interlocking tiles the members a the tiles of in shape with an parts which will be hereinparallel rows.

of one of which are designed when assembled on a roof structure to be secured by suitable attachment means to the joist or frame of the roof in separate rows, while the members of the other set are designed to bridge the s ace between said roof and to interlock with the adjacent sides of the members of the first set.

represents one of the tiles of the base or underlying set, while B represents one of the upper or overlying set. The tile A is flat and is substantially rectangular enlarged upper end 1. The tile has side edge flanges 2 which are beveled inward as shown at 3 to longitudinally extending parallel semi-circular grooves 4.. The flanges at the enlarged end 1 of the tile a re spaced outward from the groove 4, and the shoulders 5 formed thereby are adapted to form the base of a socket which is formed by said enlargement. for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. At the top of the t'le is an aperture 6 through which any attaching means ma be inserted to sec re the said tile to the roof.

Overlving tile B is substantially flat and has downwardly turned side edges 7, the eX- t 'em'e edges of which are/flat as shown at 8. The said side edges of the tile converge inwardly toward their upper end and are cut adjacent said upper end as shown at 9 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter set .fOit-ll. An aperture 10 is formed through the said tile near its upper end through which any preferred form of attaching means may be inserted to secure the said tile to the roof.

When it is desired to attach these tiles to the roof, the base or lower tiles are secured to the frame of the roof in separate These tiles are adapted to be held in separate rows by means of the sockets, formed in their upper ends into which is adapted to be held the lower end of the adjacent tile spaced above the same. The tiles are rigidly secured to the roof by fastening means which project through the apertures 6 near its upper end. When the base tiles are tus assembled in parallel separate rows which are spaced a suitable distance apart, the overlying upper tiles B are placed thereon and bridge the space between the separate parallel rows of base tiles. These overlying tiles overlap and have their downturned edges 7 adapted to engage the base tiles adjacent the longitudinally exllO tending semi-circular grooves 4 in the base tiles and their upper portions which are cut at 9, are adapted to engage the interlocking portions between the said base tiles thus forming an easily assembled tile roof. The tiles are clearly shown in assembled position in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. These tiles may be constructed of any desired material, for instance concrete covered with waterproof paint or of ordinary clay, and their simple construction is Well adapted to be manufactured by ordinary tile making machinery. In a tile roof of this construction if one of the tiles should become broken, which is a common occurrence, the tile may be very easily removed and replaced by a whole one owing to the simple and efiicient assembling means shown in this device.

It is obvious that when the base tiles are assembled in separate parallel rows, the semi-circular grooves & in their upper surfaces will aline throughout each row, so that when the overlying tiles are placed in position, the downturned edges? of the same are disposed adjacent the said grooves; and owing to the flatness of the extremities of the said edges, lie fiush against the upper base tiles.

surface of the base tiles and the grooves are adapted to form a drainage means between the ad acent portions of'the overlying and From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device the manner of applying the same to use and the operation thereof will be readily understood and it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efiicient means for carrying out the ob ects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the Copies of this patent may be obtained for elements best adapted to perform the func- 40 tions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim, 7

Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention;

I claim as my invention:

A roof structure, comprising a set of flat underlying tiles having side edge flanges beveled inwardly to longitudinally eXtenci- 5'0 ing semi-circular grooves formed in the-upper surface of said tiles, the upper end of said tiles beingenlarged and the flanges of said ends spaced outward from the grooves to form a socket, said tiles being arranged in separate rows and their'lowerfends being inserted in the sockets formed in the upper ends of the adjacent lower tiles, the grooves in said tiles alining throughout the row, and

an upper or superimposed set of tiles ar- 0' BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY NELSAN, BENJ; PnAnsoN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner" of Patents, Washington; D. C. i I 

